Section 347 BNSS: Local inspection

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 347 BNSS at a Glance

Section 347 BNSS deals with local inspection. It replaced Section 310 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 310 →

Section 347 BNSS Bare Act Text

(1) Any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

(2) Such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Source: Section 347, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 347 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with local inspection.

Under Section 347(1) BNSS, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

Under Section 347(2) BNSS, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished free of cost to the prosecutor, complainant, accused or any other party to the case who so desires.

When Section 347 BNSS Applies

  • Under Section 347(1) BNSS, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial.
  • Under Section 347(1) BNSS, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.
  • Under Section 347(2) BNSS, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case, and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Time Limits Under Section 347 BNSS

  • Under Section 347(1) BNSS, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.Act text: “shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum”

Example of Section 347 BNSS

Meera, a Magistrate, after due notice to the parties, visits and inspects a place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, at a stage of an inquiry. Under Section 347(1) BNSS, Meera shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection. Under Section 347(2) BNSS, the memorandum shall form part of the record of the case, and if Ramesh, the accused, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to Ramesh free of cost.

When Section 347 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 347(1) BNSS speaks of a Judge or Magistrate who visits and inspects a place. It does not deal with the postponement or adjournment of proceedings, which Section 346 BNSS covers under the heading Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings.
  • Section 347(2) BNSS speaks of a copy of the memorandum of an inspection furnished free of cost. It does not deal with the copy of the record of a Magistrate who tenders a pardon, which Section 343(3) BNSS covers under the heading Tender of pardon to accomplice.

Section 347 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 347 BNSS replaced Section 310 CrPC from 1 July 2024.

From 1 July 2024, Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 310 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, with the same heading. Section 347(1) BNSS and Section 347(2) BNSS are in the same words as Section 310(1) CrPC and Section 310(2) CrPC.

Each sub-section below names its own source.

FAQs on Section 347 BNSS

Who may visit and inspect a place under Section 347 BNSS?▼

Under Section 347(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial.

What shall a Judge or Magistrate record after an inspection under Section 347 BNSS?▼

Under Section 347(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the Judge or Magistrate shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

Who may be furnished a copy of the memorandum under Section 347 BNSS?▼

Under Section 347(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

What changed from Section 310 CrPC to Section 347 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

From 1 July 2024, Section 347 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 replaced Section 310 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The heading is the same. Section 347(1) BNSS and Section 347(2) BNSS are in the same words as Section 310(1) CrPC and Section 310(2) CrPC.

Section 347 BNSS: Sub-sections Explained

Section 347(1) BNSS: Local inspection

▶

Bare Act Text

(1) Any Judge or Magistrate may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding, after due notice to the parties, visit and inspect any place in which an offence is alleged to have been committed, or any other place which it is in his opinion necessary to view for the purpose of properly appreciating the evidence given at such inquiry or trial, and shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum of any relevant facts observed at such inspection.

Previous Law

CrPC 310 → Section 347(1) BNSS

Section 347(2) BNSS: Local inspection

▶

Bare Act Text

(2) Such memorandum shall form part of the record of the case and if the prosecutor, complainant or accused or any other party to the case, so desires, a copy of the memorandum shall be furnished to him free of cost.

Previous Law

CrPC 310(2) → Section 347(2) BNSS

Have questions about Section 347 BNSS?

Ask NyayGuru for a plain language explanation, or how it applies to your situation.

Ask NyayGuru →

Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 22 Oct 2026 ·